Friday, July 10, 2009

The bad news is her throat is very sore both from the mucositis which is now in her throat and mouth and from the endoscopy scope down her throat yesterday.

The pain in her stomach is the same as yesterday. The endoscopy showed mucositis in her esophagus and some light swelling in her small intestines from the chemo.

We are waiting for the results of many other tests to try to pinpoint what is causing her severe abdominal and stomach pain.

Tami will get a PAC pump today so she can self medicate for her stomach pain :(

Update 11:04 am: I just found out that because of the endoscopy the doctors don't think GVHD is the problem. They do not know what is though. Hopefully the test results we are waiting for will show them.

I also found out that unfortunately the mucostiis (mouth sores similar to canker sores) in Tami's mouth is not subsiding but is spreading and worsening. She may soon have to be fed through an IV. Today she did manage down some oatmeal and applesauce but I'm pretty sure she needs more nutrients then that so it won't be a surprise to hear that they are moving on to giving her nutrients directly through the IV if and when that happens.

While Michelle underwent chemo several times and received a cord blood stem cell transplant, it failed several months later and her need for an adult marrow match became absolutely critical. Tragically a match was not found in time and Michelle passed away on July 25, 2009. If you are Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai or any combination of these ethnicities PLEASE join the Registry to find out if you are the one who can save a patient in need like Michelle. She was only 27 years old.

To date Project Michelle has now located matches for 4 other patients in need allowing them to receive a potentially life saving marrow transplant. By registering over 20,000 potential donors into the National Registry Project Michelle will continue to locate matches for other patients in need for decades to come.

Show Your Support

With a Cancer Sucks Wristband. They're great conversation starters to help spread the word about the National Marrow Donor Program

CLICK HERE to order one and to learn about our friend Roger who received a marrow transplant in March at MD Anderson in Houston, TX and is now recovering from Myelodysplasia.

This is Roger post transplant. After several agonizing days when the chemo hit him hard among other things he started losing his hair. Here he is beginning to feel better and in the process of having his head shaved.

Do You Know a Terminallly Ill Patient Who Wants to Get Married?

Wish Upon a Wedding is a new non-profit launching in 2010 whose purpose is to grant weddings and civil union ceremonies to patients facing life threatening illnesses.